Steering-gear for automobiles.



P. H. BELLMORE. STEERING GEAR} FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED IEB. 10-,1910.

PatehtedJan. 9, 1912. I

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P. H. BELL MORE. STEERING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.10. 1910.

:. ;014,4.39,. Patented Jan. 9, 191,2.

. 3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

, ful Improvements in Steerin a citizen of the United States,

rrrrmr H. BELLMORE, or'MIssoULA, MONTANA.

I STEERING-GEAR ronnuromonrnns;

Specification of Lettersfatent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

Applicattien filed February 10,1910. Serial No. 543,084.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. BELLMORE, residing at Missoula, in the county of Missoula, Montana, have invented certain new and use- -Gear for Automobiles; and I do hereby eclare the fol.- lowing tube a full, clear,-and exact description of the invention such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobiles and has special reference to a motor driven vehicle in which the front axle is provided with swiveling knuckles for carrying the front wheels and the rear .axle is swiveled to swing in a horizontal plane.

The invention more particularly refers to a mechanism for swinging both the front wheels is swung.

and rear wheels of an automobile of this class, the front wheels swinging in one direction and the rear axle swinging bodily with its wheels in the opposite direction.

, One object of the invention-is to provide a novel form of mechanismof the character described which will enable an automobile to turn corners oncurves of shorter radii than is possible where only .The invention further novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

, In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :--Figure 1 is a plan v1ew of an automobile chassis with the major partof the mechanism removed in order to show the special features of this invention more clearly. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the parts as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the parts disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fl 1 is a plan view showing a somewhatdi erent arrangement for operating the wheels in the manner described. Fig. 5 is a second modification slightly different from that shown inFig. 4.

Throughout the draw ngs the frame is indicated by the numeral 10 and at the forward end of this fraine is the usual front axle 11 which is provided withthe ordinary knuckles 12. These knuckles are each formed with a journal portion '13 to carry a wheel 14. Extending longitudinally of the frame from the journal portion are arms State of any special type of 18 are other formed in the bolster 18. It will that by this means of suspension the rear consists 1n certain one pair of Extending forwardly 15 and the arm 3 15 of one knuckle isconnected to'the arm 15 of the other knuckle by means of a tie rod 16.1

In the formshown in Figs, 1 and .2 the tie rod 16 is arranged in front of the front axle while in the forms shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the tie rods are located behind the rear axle. i

At the rear of the frame 10 there isprovided a cross member-17 beneath which is a bolster 18 connectedto the frame by links 18. The rear axle, indicated at 19, is constructed in the usual manner of two parts and these parts, together with the differential gear, are incased, the casing for the axle section's, being indicated at 20 while the gear casing is indicated at-21. The differential gear is of any preferred type and -it is not deemed necessary here to disclose gear for this purpose.-

Upon the axle casings 20 are formed side "srATES PA E T bearing members 22 while upon the bolster side bearing members 23, rollers 24 being provided between the axle and bolster side bearings. Upon the gear casing 21 there is provided a center pin 25 which is received in a suitable center e observed axle is free to swing ina horizontal plane. from the casing 20 and 21 are lever members 26 which are united at their forward ends by a cross member 27 in bearing The front wheels are connected tothe usual steering wheel in any preferred manner and it is not deemed necessary here to disclose any particular manner as the invention does not embrace any special mechanism for moving the front wheels.

At 30 is shown the usual engine shaft and at 31 is the rear'drive shaft. This drive shaft 31 is connected by a universal joint 32 with an intermediate shaft 33 which is inturn connected by a universal joint 34 to the motor driven shaft 30. One of the members .of the universal joint 34 is arranged to slide longitudinally of the shaft whereon it is mounted and in the present instance provision is made for this sliding movement by connecting the forward membe! 34 to the shaft 30 with a pin and slot connection as indicated at 35. The purpose of this will .be apparent when it is considered that as the rear axleis moved arounditscenterthe tendency is to lengthen maining the distance between .the and the endof the shaft must be made for "such extension of the 4 rear universal joint 30 so that provision shaft. v I

In the form shown in .Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is provided on the forward portion of the frame a bell crank lever 36 and on the cross member 29 is a similar bell crank lever 37,;-Two of the arms of these levers extend in the same direction laterally while the rearms extend respectively, forwardly and rearwardly from their pivot points. Thelateral arms of the levers 36 and '37- are connected by a link rod 38, the remaining arm .of the lever 36' being connected to the tie bar '16 by a link rod 39 and the remaining arm of the lever 37 being.

' connected to the lever by a link 40.

It will now be apparent that if the tie bar be drawn toward the right to move the wheels 14 into position so that the machine will be directed to the right the lever 36 will have its lateral arm forced backward and will push upon the link rod-38. This, in turn, will force the lateral arm of 37 backward and will cause this lever to rotate in the direction of the hands of a clock with the consequence that the lever will be swung toward the left and the rear and front wheels thus caused to assume a nected to the lever by ailink rod more acute angleto each other than if the forward wheels only were acted upon.

In the formshown in Fig. 4 the tie bar- 16 1s, as previously noted, located to the rear of the .front axle and-this tie bar is con- 41, said 'link rod extending from a p'oint'ad acent one side of the frame, across the center of is very similar to that shown in Fi 4 with 41' two link rods are the machine, and being connected to the lever adjacent the. opposite 'side of the frame. The link rod thus occupies a diagonal'position with relation to .the center of the machine; I I In the form shown in Fig. 5 the device place of the single 'rod employed each crossing from one side of the frame to the other as can be clearly seen from reference to that figure. Now, if the front wheels be moved the exception that in Havingihus'described' ,rear bolster, a front axle, pivoted to the ends-of said front axle and I provided with front wheeljournals, armsextending longitudinally swing in a' horizontal the lever extending longitudinally carried in the casing,

to direct the-machine 16 will move to the right. This will cause the link rod 41 to be pushed upon and will operate to move the forward end of the the-left the tie bar lever to the right with the consequence that.'5t

the journals, atie rod connecting said-arms, a casing swlveled to the rear bolster to plane, -a' rear axle carried in the casing, a lever including members extending forwardly from the casingg:

omopposite sides of the pivot thereof, and a connection between the tie rod and the lever for simultaneously swin ing the front wheel journals and the rear ax e casing.

' 2. In an automobile, a rear bolster, a-front axle, steering knuckles pivoted to, the ends of said front axle and provided with front wheel journals, arms of the frame from frame including a 8t thejour'nals,a tie rod" connecting said arms,

a casing "swiveled to the rear bolster to sw ng in a horlzontal'plane, a rear axle hers extending forwardly from the casin a link rod disposed diagonally under the frame and pivotally connected at its ends to the lever and to the tie rod.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP H; BELLMORE.

Witnesses: p I Enwann M. EBICKSEN,

AN'roN W. ERICKSEN.

a lever including mem- OII'OPPOSltG sides of the pivot thereof, an

of the frame from 7P 

